Tourists have been enjoying holidays in Lanzarote for over forty years – ever since the island’s first hotel, the Los Fariones, opened its doors in the late 1960´s.  But the small fishing village of Playa Blanca (named after the white beach which still lies at its heart) remained untouched by tourism for decades.  Whilst resort rivals sprung up to the north.

In part this can be contributed to the fact that the island is subject to strict planning laws which carefully control development on Lanzarote.  But by the late 1980´s the villages twin attributes of great beaches and fantastic weather could be ignored by developers no longer and construction on a series of hotels and luxury villas continued.  Creating the bustling resort of Playa Blanca today.

Seen from above by tourists as they arrive by air Playa Blanca is made up of three small bays set within one much larger cove.  A topography that grants the resort plenty of protection form the Trade Winds that buffet the rest of the island from March through until August.  With each bay boasting an attractive beach at its core.

But the real sandy star is located around fifteen minutes walk from the centre of Playa Blanca.  As the set of coves at Papagayo (or parrot in Spanish) are completely natural and unspoiled and are a real beach lover’s paradise.  With visitors able to hop between different beaches with ease. 

Accommodation in the resort is of high standard – with those seeking a self catering break able to choose from a wide selection of apartments and villas in Playa Blanca.  At reasonable prices too – with a standard two bedroom villa with pool costing from around €400 per week.

There are also plenty of good quality Playa Blanca hotels to choose from too.  The most luxurious of which is the five star Gran Melia Volcan, which is located close to the exciting Rubicon Marina Development.  Home to a number of upmarket shops and Lanzarote´s branch of the famous Café del Mar.

Should tourists be able to tear themselves away from the beaches or the pool the islands number one tourist attraction, the Timanfaya National Park, is also just a short ten minute drive away.

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Manrique’s influences include the impressive carved mural that adorns the reception area and a further example can be found in the hotel bar. But it is the lagoon style swimming pool and the internal tropical atrium that really garner attention, with lush plantings of palm trees, papyrus and elephant’s ear.

The building’s genius lies in the fact that each room offers its guests a sea view from the balcony. Apart from the rooms and suites in the hotel itself, there are several sumptuous garden villas that have been added in recent years that have their own private pools and garden areas.

Another hotel that has created an equally beautiful exotic garden is the Princesa Yaiza hotel. One of two five star hotels in Playa Blanca.  Unlike the Gran Melia Salinas, which is in Costa Teguise, the Princesa Yaiza is in the new resort of Playa Blanca. It overlooks the sandy beach at Playa Dorada and has views to the neighbouring islands of Fuerteventura and Los Lobos.

The Princesa Yaiza prides itself on a range of packages for guests at the hotel, covering everything from golf enthusiasts to family holidays where children’s activities are a must. It has eight restaurants in total and facilities such as a gymnasium and thalassotherapy spa.

The Hesperia hotel at Puerto Calero similarly takes the spa business very seriously, with a range of treatments and packages available for guests who need some physical pampering on their holiday. It is also the only hotel on the island to offer free WIFI access throughout the premises and has a pet room facility for those who can’t bear to leave the dog at home.

The capital of Arrecife also has a five star hotel, in the shape of the Gran Hotel. This glass fronted establishment is the only high-rise building on the island and as a result, diners at the hotel’s Altamar restaurant can enjoy panoramic views from its windows. It too has a spa and wellness centre, where guests can begin the relaxation process. An elevated swimming pool and teak sun deck overlooks the white sandy beach at Playa del Reducto, which is situated almost at the hotel’s entrance.

The fifth hotel is the Gran Melia Volcan, a sister hotel to the Gran Melia Salinas, which can be found in Playa Blanca. This hotel has been laid out as a replica of a Canarian village and leads directly to the Rubicon Marina at its front.   Surprisingly there are no five star hotels in Puerto del Carmen - despite the fact that this is the largest resort on the island.

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Lanzarote is home to three main tourist resorts.  But Puerto del Carmen is the spot where modern holidays first really took off on Lanzarote.  Transforming a small fishing village formerly called La Tiñosa into the islands number one holiday destination.

Much of Puerto del Carmen’s success can be attributed to the fact the resort enjoys a great microclimate.  As it is relatively well sheltered from the Trade Winds that buffet the island during the Spring months.  Whilst also boasting some excellent (albeit man made) beaches.  Such as the main section of sand – Playa Cucharas.  And other smaller spots such as Playa Chica.

Over the last year local tourist authorities have also been pouring investment money into Puerto del Carmen.  With around €16 million spent to date on a new marina in the Old Town harbour area and the pedestrianisation of the main seafront promenade – the Avenida de las Playas.  Moves which are designed to help maintain the resorts competiveness in the face of growing competition from newer destinations around the world.

A well as great beaches visitors will also find some excellent accommodation choices.  There are two main hotels in Puerto del Carmen – in the form of the San Antonio and the Los Fariones.  Which both enjoy enviable sea front locations.  Whilst there’s also plenty of private villas in Puerto del Carmen available for rent.  Especially in and around the Old Town harbour area.

This is also the spot where tourists can jump onto a boat for an excursion along the shoreline or across to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura.  And the harbour area is also an ideal place come nightfall – as it is home to the largest selection of good quality restaurants.

A wide array of water sports such as jet skiing and diving are available at the smaller breach of Playa Chica.  Whilst a new golf course – only the second on the island – has recently opened on the outskirts of town.

There’s never been a better time to visit Puerto del Carmen as this winter flights to Lanzarote are available with low cost carriers such as Ryanair from as littlie as £9.99 return.
 

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Getting There
Puerto del Carmen is located just ten minutes drive from the sole airport on the island at Arrecife.  There is no shuttle or public bus service between the airport and the resort so independent travellers have to take a taxi.  Which costs around €10.

Places To Stay
The growth of the internet as a holiday search tool has helped to fuel demand for Lanzarote villas and apartments.  As many tourists now prefer to build their own holiday online.

The best selection of villas in Puerto del Carmen can be found in and around the residential zone of Los Mojones.  Which is located around five minutes walk from the Old Town area of Puerto del Carmen.  Where the harbour is currently being transformed into a luxury marina.

There are also two main hotels in Puerto del Carmen.  The Los Fariones, which is located right in the heart of the resort.  And the San Antonio, which is positioned on the edge of the resort close to the large beach at Los Pocillos.

Beaches
Playa Grande is the main beach in Puerto del Carmen.  And boasts great facilities such as showers, sun loungers and umbrellas.  Water sports such as jet skiing can be booked here and visitors will find that this is the most popular stretch of sand in the resort.  Especially amongst families with young children.  As it’s very safe to swim here.

For those in search of a little more peace and quiet there’s a little used beach right in front of the Los Fariones Hotel that is ideal for getting away from the crowds.  As well as an attractive beach at Playa Chica which is also ideal for anyone planning to try their hand at scuba diving.

Excursions & Days Out
The Old Town harbour area is the embarkation point for a number of water based tours.  Such as the Princesa Ico, which transports guests across to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura.

The Rancho Texas Wild West Park is located on the outskirts of the resort.  And is great for families.  As children can enjoy a wide range of themed activities whilst also visiting the sizeable zoo. 

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Lanzarote is an ideal summer holiday destination as the island offers guaranteed sunshine and temperatures in excess of 24 Celsius throughout the summer months.  Yet is also cooled by a gentle breeze that is absent on the Spanish mainland.  Where temperatures during July and August can climb to unbearable levels.  Resulting in many residents of the peninsula heading for the Canary Islands in order to escape!

Lanzarote also offers a wealth of attractions for those who want to do more than just laze by the pool and soak up the sun.  As the island boasts a host of natural attractions such as The Timanfaya Volcano Park that should feature on any visitor’s itinerary.

The Volcano Park lies at the hub of a series of eruptions that blasted Lanzarote for six years during the 1730´s.  Leaving behind mile after mile of petrified lava and hundreds of volcanic peaks.  Creating surreal scenery that looks like the Planet Mars.

Elsewhere on the island a local artist called Cesar Manrique has fused this twisted terrain with his own creativity in the construction of a series of unique visitor centres.  Such as the Jameos del Agua, which started life as a 6km long volcanic tunnel – but is now an incredible underground auditorium and concert venue.

A number of hotels in Lanzarote are offering up to 30% off the cost of a weeks stay during June, July and September this year.  With bargains available for those who book before May 30th.  Amongst the deals on offer are a weeks stay at the four star Hotel Beatriz in Matagorda – reduced by 15% from £582.83 per couple to £495.40 for bookings on a half board basis. 

A similar deal is also available at their sister hotel – the four star Beatriz Spa in Costa Teguise.  Where the cost of a double room on a half board basis has been reduced from £567.21 to £482.13 per couple. Deals are also available on a selection of Lanzarote villas, for those who prefer the self catering option. With Whitebeach Holidays, who specialise in holiday villas in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote´s newest resort, offering a weeks break in June for two people for as little as £195.

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 Rewind twenty years and Playa Blanca really was the sleepy fishing village that so often features in holiday brochure descriptions.  But today it is the second largest resort on the island.   Thanks to the fact that the area boasts the best microclimate on Lanzarote.  And is home to some of the best beaches in the whole of the Canaries, such as the delightful set of bays and coves at nearby Papagayo (or Parrot Beach in English).

 These natural advantages became a magnet for property developers and hotel groups in the 1980´s – as the concept of package tourism started to take off and holidays in Lanzarote became popular with British tourists.  Who now account for around 850,000 visits to Lanzarote every year. Transforming this stretch of coastline with great views across to neighbouring Fuerteventura into a hot bed of hotel development.  

 In total there are now 17 hotels in Playa Blanca for visitors to enjoy.  Ranging from five star opulence at the Sol Melia groups Gran Volcan – with its grand entrance hall mimicking the cones of the nearby volcanoes at Timanafaya.  Through to the more rustic charm of the Caja de Ambassador .  A set of former fisherman’s cottages that were converted into holiday accommodation by a one time diplomat. 

 The majority of the new hotels in Playa Blanca are of a four star standard and prices start from around €80 per night per room, on a bed and breakfast basis. Amongst the most popular is the H10 Lanzarote Princess.  And little wonder as this well appointed hotel is located just 300 metres from one of the most family friendly beaches in the resort at Playa Dorada. 

 Arguably the best located hotel for beach lovers though is the Papagaya Arena, which only opened as recently as 2003 and which is just a 500 metre stroll from the beaches at Papagayo.

 Whilst elsewhere in the resort towards the lighthouse at the Faro de Pechiguera lies the stylish Timanfaya Palace – one of the H10 Groups flagship establishments on the island .  This four star hotel has been constructed around two huge swimming pools and offers comfortable accommodation in close proximity to the beach at Playa Flamingo.  

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 Thanks to Playa Blanca´s southern situation the resort enjoys the best microclimate on the island – which means that visitors here can generally expect to enjoy higher temperatures and more sunshine than other parts of the island. Factors which are obviously of major importance to holidaymakers when it comes to selecting their preferred destination.  Especially during the winter months where there can be a good deal of variation in temperature between the north and south of Lanzarote.

 Playa Blanca also boasts some of the best beaches – not just in Lanzarote but in all of the Canary Islands.  With the five white sand coves at Papagayo (or Parrot Beach) being the best known.  Playa Blanca also boasts a variety of beaches, which the other main resorts cannot really match.  Encompassing the attractive beach at Playa Flamingo, the excellent and family friendly sands at Playa Dorada – and the smaller, picturesque little town beach right in the centre of the resort. Little wonder that the resort is called white beach in Spanish.

 Playa Blanca is also the gateway to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura – located just 8km away across the Bocaina Straits.  Which provides an atmospheric backdrop – especially at night – when the lights across the water shimmer away like stars.

 As a result of these factors Playa Blanca started to attract the attentions of property developers and the major hotel chains back in the 1990´s – as tourism was really taking off on the island.  Resulting in the creation of a resort with four and five star hotels at the core of the blueprint.  Whilst by comparison there are only two major hotels in Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca´s closest competitor –and still Lanzarote´s largest and most popular holiday destination.

 Today therefore visitors to the island are able to select from a wide range of good quality hotels.  Such as the five star Gran Melia Volcan – which is located slap bang next to the relatively new luxury development of the Marina Rubicon. As well as a number of highly popular four star establishments such as the Princessa Yaiza, the Hesperia Playa Dorada and the Lanzarote Princess – operated by the well known Spanish hotels group H10.

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 Lanzarote Guidebook is written by island residents and published every quarter – so the information it contains is always accurate and up to date.  Whilst by comparison most conventional guidebooks are out of date by the time they hit the bookshelves and only updated annually at best.  And is packed with lots of useful information for tourists.  Such as comprehensive guides to all of the islands resorts, towns and villages.  Plus full information about of all of Lanzarote´s many attractions, excursions and sightseeing destinations.  Such as the breathtaking Timanfaya Volcano Park and the many creations of the island born artist and architect Cesar Manrique.

 In addition Lanzarote Guidebook also features great photography of Lanzarote, maps of each resort, an overall island map and lots of inside tips and information about upcoming events and fiestas.  As well as recommendations about what to see and things to do. Along with a useful Essentials section that contains practical information on all of the fine details – from bank opening times and ferry timetables through to emergency phone numbers and tips on driving locally.

 The 104 page Winter 08/09 edition of Lanzarote Guidebook can be downloaded fast and for free by visiting the Lanzarote Guidebook website.

 Online, visitors to the site can read up on the latest island news and events, check the latest weather forecasts, read in-depth articles about Lanzarote and the islands many attractions and even seek free advice via the online tourist advice section.  As well as being able to book their own flights, holidays, hire cars, villas and hotels in Lanzarote via island based companies.

 10,000 copies of Lanzarote Guidebook are also distributed entirely free of charge to tourists on the island via car hire and villa rental companies.  But everyone can get their hands on one by downloading a copy for free from the Lanzarote Guidebook website

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Some of Lanzarote´s best known hotels are in the firing line, such as the five star Gran Melia Volcan in Playa Blanca, the Natura Palace and the Gran Castillo.

In total eight five star hotels, ten Apart-hotels and four new developments still in the planning stage have been decreed to have flouted an edict controlling construction on the island.  Which was created back in 2000 to militate against unfettered building work.

However two local councils essentially chose to ignore these new rules.  And granted licenses to hotels which contravened this ruling in two of Lanzarote´s main resorts, namely Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca.

Established hotels in Puerto del Carmen Lanzarote´s leading resort, managed to escape the controversy.  As local councilors here adhered to the new planning restrictions.

A police unit that specialises in fighting organised crime was then formed to investigate whether the former mayors of Teguise and Yaiza were guilty of accepting bribes from developers in return for building licenses.

A view that was supported by the Supreme Court of the Canary Islands as a result of an action instigated by the central island government in tandem with  the César Manrique Foundation.

A further meeting was held recently between the Director of the Environmental Department of the Canarian Government, representatives from the Ayuntamientos of Teguise and Yaiza and the hoteliers association Asolan. But the leader of the island central government failed to attend – making a final consensus impossible.

Those assembled were simply left to agree that a case by case study was necessary to explore how the offending hotels might be brought into line.  There is some suggestion that these hotels could even be demolished.  But most island observers consider this highly unlikely.  As Lanzarote can ill afford to do such damage to the local job market or the islands international reputation as a holiday destination.

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